How A Weekend Away Can Make Your Life Better

Do you ever sigh and say the words, “well, that’s life isn’t it?” when a friend tells you about a challenge they’re facing, or when the washing machine breaks down, or when you express mild dread at the prospect of another day doing the same thing?

Life gets on top of all of us, and sometimes we need to step outside of our day-to-day so that we can refresh ourselves and see things a little differently.

There’s lots of evidence to suggest that travelling boosts creativity and alters your perspective. But the reality for most of us is that it’s pretty much impossible to pick up sticks and go on a month long cycle tour around Kazakhstan. However, even a brief weekend away can have a surprisingly big impact on creativity and general wellbeing, and research by scientists at the University of Pittsburgh shows that the value of leisure time runs deeper than we think.

Have you ever gone on vacation and suddenly felt like you can breathe again, and rediscovered motivation and optimism that you thought was long lost? Taking yourself out of your normal life does two very important things.

It Creates Distance

Going away — even if you don’t go very far! — puts physical distance between you and the trials and tribulations of your life. If you’re a freelancer, try not to work while you’re away for the weekend. Take a pause. Allow that distance to sink in (it won’t if you’re still checking your emails every ten minutes).

And then the physical distance creates emotional distance, and suddenly your perspective is altered. You feel a sense of clarity; you can see your problems from afar, and see the things that you’re grateful for from afar, and it all makes a bit more sense to you.

This altered perspective that comes from even a brief trip allows you to gather strength and motivation so that you can go home feeling refreshed, positive, and ready to get back to living your life well.

It Brings New Inspiration

New experiences offer inspiration to fill in those gaps that the familiarity of your regular life has whittled in your creative brain. Inspiration comes from everywhere when you’re in a new place — every person you meet is intriguing, every shop you enter has an air of mystery about it, and the ticket machine at an unfamiliar train station forces you to be in the present moment.

You can’t coast through the day in a place you don’t know, because you don’t know how everything works. You have to really be there: noticing what’s happening and responding to people and objects, and taking it all in.

So don’t worry if you can’t dump the kids/job/partner/pets and take off on a round the world adventure to get your mojo back. Book a weekend in a town you’ve never heard of, and leave your life at home for a couple of days.

If you have loved this installment of Acting Pure please let me know by leaving a comment below! I would love to hear about your last weekend away or perhaps one you have planned!

Until Next Time.... Enjoy Exploring... xx

#actingpure #travelling #adventure #betterlife